Magnetic spark-plug.



F. S. PERRIN.

MAGNETIC SPARK PLUG. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

989,924, Patented Apr.18, 1911.

WITNESSES: IlV/VTOR FREDERIG S. PERRIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MAGNETIC SPARK-PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1s; 191 1.

Application filed November 3, 1910. Serial No. 590,450.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnonnrc S. PERRIN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State'of New York,have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in MagneticSpark-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in magnetic spark-plugs forelectrically igniting the gases in the cylinder of an internalcombustion engine; and the object of my improvement is to provide such aplug that will produce an electric are from the selfinduced current ofan electro-magnetic coil in its circuit.

I attain my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the plug; and Fig.2 is a view of an internal combustion engine equipped with myplug; andshowing the electrical circuits and connections adapted to itsoperation.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the views. a

The numeral 1 indicates asoft iron tube shown threaded at its lower endand screwed securely into a non-magnetic metal shell 19; said tubehaving. a central bore extending throughout its' length; 2 indicates acoil of insulated wire wound upon thet-ube 1, with insulation a betweenthe tube and coil.

3 indicates a metal rod, threaded at the upper end for nuts 20, andprovided at its lower end with a shoulder or head 4 and a projection orpin 6.

9 indicates an insulating tube or winding as of mica, extending throughthe bore of the tube or core 1 and inclosing the rod 3, to

insulate one from the other.

5 indicates a conically shaped soft iron armature having a central borereceiving projection or pin 6, the diameter of which bore is greaterthan the diameter of the pin 6.

7 indicates a metallic prolongation or terminal on shell 19 upon whichrests the armature 5.

8 indicates a binding post for one terminal of the coil 2; and at b areincombustible insulating washers, such as mica or asbestos,

between core 3, thread 4 and nut 20..

In Fig. 2, 10 indicates an internal combustion engine provided with myimproved spark-plug 2 fitted to the cylinder; 11 indicates a cam on theshaft of the engine, which cam operates a suitably insulated clever orcontact 12, against a stationary conb with suflicient force to close thebore in tube or core 1 and make an air-tight joint, and preventelectrical contact between the tube 1 and the rod 3. The coil 2 is woundupon the tube 1 with suflicient convolutions of wire to form anelectro-magnet having considerable self-induction, and thisself-induction of the coil I utilize for making the arc in the plug toignite the gases in the engine.

6116 terminal of the coil is attached to the rod 3 by means of the wire17 and nuts 20, and the other terminal is brought out by the wire 18 tobinding post 8; by this means the rod 3 and the metallic projection orpin 6 are in circuit with, coil 2.

The armature 5 is held in an inclined po- 1 sition with its lower edgeresting upon the terminal 7, at a point outside of its center ofgravity, by means of the pin 6 passing through the bore of thear1nature,'said bore having a diameter larger than that of pin 6 toallow the conical armature 5 to incline to one side in such a mannerthat the pin 6 will make contact with the armature, within its bore,near or at the top on one side and near or at the bottom upon the otherside; and allow the armature 5 tomove freely up and down upon pin 6,from its support 7 to the rod head 4:.

The operation of my improved sparkplugis as follows: when the fuelmixture is compressed in engine 10, the cam 11 moves the lever orcontact 12 against the stationary contact 13 and closes the circuit fromthe generator 14 through wire 16 to the binding post 8, thence by thewire 18 through the coil 2 to the rod 3, by means of wire 17 thencethroughthe pin 6 to the conical armature 5, and terminal or support 7 toshell 19, and from said shell throughthe engine cylinder to the contact13, thence to contact 12 and through the ivire 15 back to the generator14;. The instant this circuit is closed through the coil 2, the ironcore or tube 1, rod 3 and head 4 become magnetized and attract the softiron armature 5 toward said head, thus raising the armature from itssupport 7 and breaking the electrlc circuit. \Vhen' the circuit of thecoil is broken an arc is formed at the break by the self-induced currentset up in the convolutions of wire in the coil, and this are providesthe spark that ignites the mixture in the engine cylinder. As the enginecontinues to run the cam 11 breaks the circuit at 12, 13, the armature 5will drop down along the pin 6 until its edge rests upon the support 7,and incline againstthe pin 6, ready to repeat the spark when the circuitis again closed, thus producing a continuous operation of the engine. Itwill thus be understood that the armature .5 normally maintains thecircuit closed between the parts 6 and 7 and the break in the circuitbetween the parts 5 and '7 only occurs when the timer closes thecircuit, the armature 5 falling back to the normal position by gravityupon the breaking of the circuitat the timer, so that when the circuitis open at the timer it is closed at 5, 6, 7, ready for the flow ofcurrent upon. the closing of the circuit at the timer, whereupon thebreak in the circuit occurs at 5, 7 to ignite the engine charge, and soon.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

I L The combination, in a magnetic sparkpliig cfanon-magnetic shell, atubular softiron core attached to the shell, a coil of wire surroundingthe core, conductor in circuit with said coil, extending through andinsulated from the core, and having an extension projecting into thecavity of the shell; a soft iron armature adapted to move upon theextension within the shell, an arm of the shell supporting the armatureat a point outside of its center of gravity, the armature, when restingupon its support, being inclined against the projecting extension.

2. In a magnetic spark-plug, the combination of a non-magnetic shell,with ail electromagnct comprising a coil of wire wound upon a tubularsoft-iron core, an insulated conductor, in circuit with the coil andextending through the core, an extension of the conductor projectinginto the cavity of the shell, an armature having a bore adapted to moveupon the extension within the shell, and an arm of the shell supportingthe armature at a point outside of its-center of gravity.

8. An elect-ro-magnet 2, shell 19 having a tubular corel, an insulatedconductor 3 having a shoulder 4 and a projection 6, a perforatedarmature 5 resting upon an arm 7 of the shell at a point outside of itscenter of gravity, and adapted to move upon the projection 6.

4. A magnetic spark ,plug comprising a non-magnetic threadedshell, anelectro-magnet having a tubular core attached to the shell, an insulatedconductor passing through the core and having a shoulder, and anextension projecting into the cavity of the shell, a soft-iron armaturehaving an aperture greater in diameter than that of said extension,adapted to move upon the extension, the shell having an arm supportingthe armature at a pointoutside its center of gravity, the armature, whenat rest, being inclined against the extension, of the conductor.

5. A magnetic spark plug provided with a magnethaving a core containingan insulated conductor, a terminal, an armature adapted to rest upon theterminal and provided with an opening adapted to play freely upon andmake contact with said conductor.

6. A magnetic spark plug provided with a magnet having a core containingan insulated conductor, a terminal, an armature adapted to rest upon theterminal and provided with an opening adapted to play freely upon andmake contact with said conductor, said armature when it raises engagingsaid contact at two points. 7. A magnetic spark plug provided with amagnet having a core containing an insulated conductor, a terminal, anarmature adapted to rest upon the terminal and provided with an openingadapted to play freely upon and make contact with said conductor, saidterminal being out of line with the axis of the conductor, whereby thearmature when resting upon said terminal will tilt into contact with theconductor.

8. A magnetic spark plug comprising a magnet having a soft iron core,and a nonmagnetic shell connected therewith, said core containing aninsulated conductor projec'ting from the core into a chamber in saidshell, said shell being provided with a terminal spaced from theconductor, and an armature'fitted to play freely upon said conductor andadapted to rest upon said terminal and thereby make contact with theconductor.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of NewYork, this 18th day, ofOct. A. D. 1910.

FREDERIG S. PERRIN.

Witnesses:

HERMAN HERsT, Jr., T. F. BOURNE.

i r-i of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

